Investing in a cloud service could change the course of your business technology. That’s why it is best to understand all the capabilities of these types of services before jumping in.

Maybe you know what the cloud is and understand that data is stored in online applications, but don’t fully understand what kinds of data can be stored there.

With the ability to save computing power by storing your data on a third-party server online, your enterprise can save money and time. But where should you begin when it comes to migrating to a more cloud-based approach with your business? What kinds of processes or information can be done through cloud services?

Here’s a look at the top five cloud service implementations and a little about how they’re used.

Storage/Backup

Many cloud services are used simply to store data or back up already-existing data. Some businesses have their own process down so well that they just want an extra backup copy of things in case something happens to their systems. This is a great idea, because if all your information is stored on hardware on-site, something could happen to the physical space where it is located (such as a natural disaster). At that point, information could end up different to recover or totally lost.

With an extra service backing up all your data, you can rest assured that your customer, vendor, and employee data is locked safely away from floods and fires.

Data Analysis

The cloud is becoming a place for data analysis in addition to simple storage. Businesses are seeing a high ROI by utilizing the cloud for their analytical process. From business intelligence to cognitive computing, the cloud can house it all. Plus, it can offer a place to work with data outside of your in-house servers.

If you’re not focused on the actual infrastructure, you can concentrate on the analytics of your business. Cloud service companies now offer solutions for analysis through improved performance and scalability— every business owner’s dream!

Email (Gmail, Outlook, iCloud Mail)

With email making up the majority of communication in any business, having the most efficient email system has never been more important. By using a cloud service as your email provider, your business will be able to manage customer retention, track acquisitions, and be more brand-aware. Some cloud-based email platforms also offer instant and video chatting, as well as email threading and some social media elements.

There’s variety in different email packages.Look for one that fits your needs as a business.

Security

Cybersecurity is one of the first things any business should consider. Sensitive information about you and your clients can be at risk without proper care. With the increasing security measures that cloud services take, it has become a form of security in itself. It takes the place of many traditional IT security systems.Data storage is even considered safer in a third-party data center, such as an online application in the cloud.

Whether your security includes preventing loss due to deletion, or preventing data theft, it can all be accomplished through cloud services.

Many people don’t even realize they’re using the cloud when it comes to collaboration. If you’ve ever used Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, Zoho, Adobe Online Services, Dropbox, Gmail, HyperOffice, or a number of other services, then you’ve used cloud services to collaborate. To keep pace with business today, every company needs the ability to collaborate in real time with others in order to complete business processes.

When you use cloud services for collaboration, it’s easy and quick to share files while controlling the restrictions for editing.